First published in 1999, this celebrated history of San Francisco traces the exploitation of both local and distant regions by prominent families—the Hearsts, de Youngs, Spreckelses, and others—who gained power through mining, ranching, water and energy, transportation, real estate, weapons, and the mass media. The story uncovered by Gray Brechin is one of greed and ambition on an epic scale. Brechin arrives at a new way of understanding urban history as he traces the connections between environment, economy, and technology and discovers links that led, ultimately, to the creation of the atomic bomb and the nuclear arms race. In a new preface, Brechin considers the vulnerability of cities in the post-9/11 twenty-first century.

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From the Inside Flap:

"A classic of urban history, environmental history, California history, and socially oriented architectural criticism, this work contains scholarship that is thrilling in its comprehensiveness. Never before have the inner dynamics of the regional civilization centered in San Francisco been so comprehensively integrated."—Dr. Kevin Starr, State Librarian of California, author of Americans and the California Dream

" Imperial San Francisco is a great gift of a book, the product of extraordinary research, insight, and hard work that connects a lot of dots and gives me a reinvigorated focus and curiosity [about] what California culture was and what might become of it all."—Gary Snyder

About the Author:

Gray Brechin has worked as a journalist and television producer and is coauthor of Farewell, Promised Land: Waking from the California Dream (UC Press). He received his Ph.D. from the U.C. Berkeley Department of Geography in 1998

Book Description University of California Press, 2006. Book Condition: New. Brand New, Unread Copy in Perfect Condition. A+ Customer Service! Summary: List of Illustrations Acknowledgments Preface to the 2006 Edition Preface to the First Edition: The Urban Maelstrom Introduction: New Romes for a New World Part I: Foundations of Dominion 1. The Pyramid of Mining 2. Water Mains and Bloodlines Part II: The Thought Shapers 3. The Scott Brothers: Arms and the Overland Mutiny 4. The De Youngs: Society Invents Itself 5. The Hearsts: Racial Supremacy and the Digestion of "All Mexico" Part III: Remote Control 6. Toward Limitless Energy 7. The University, the Gate, and "the Gadget" Notes A Note on Sources Select Bibliography Index. Bookseller Inventory # ABE_book_new_0520250087

Book Description University of California Press, United States, 2006. Paperback. Book Condition: New. 2nd Revised edition. 224 x 152 mm. Language: English Brand New Book. First published in 1999, this celebrated history of San Francisco traces the exploitation of both local and distant regions by prominent families - the Hearsts, de Youngs, Spreckelses, and others - who gained power through mining, ranching, water and energy, transportation, real estate, weapons, and the mass media. The story uncovered by Gray Brechin is one of greed and ambition on an epic scale. Brechin arrives at a new way of understanding urban history as he traces the connections between environment, economy, and technology and discovers links that led, ultimately, to the creation of the atomic bomb and the nuclear arms race. In a new preface, Brechin considers the vulnerability of cities in the post-9/11 twenty-first century. Bookseller Inventory # AAH9780520250086

Book Description University of California Press, United States, 2006. Paperback. Book Condition: New. 2nd Revised edition. 224 x 152 mm. Language: English Brand New Book. First published in 1999, this celebrated history of San Francisco traces the exploitation of both local and distant regions by prominent families - the Hearsts, de Youngs, Spreckelses, and others - who gained power through mining, ranching, water and energy, transportation, real estate, weapons, and the mass media. The story uncovered by Gray Brechin is one of greed and ambition on an epic scale. Brechin arrives at a new way of understanding urban history as he traces the connections between environment, economy, and technology and discovers links that led, ultimately, to the creation of the atomic bomb and the nuclear arms race. In a new preface, Brechin considers the vulnerability of cities in the post-9/11 twenty-first century. Bookseller Inventory # AAH9780520250086

Book Description 2006. Paperback. Book Condition: New. 2nd. 152mm x 36mm x 229mm. Paperback. First published in 1999, this celebrated history of San Francisco traces the exploitation of both local and distant regions by prominent families?the Hearsts, de Youngs, Spreckelses,.Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability. 402 pages. 0.658. Bookseller Inventory # 9780520250086

Book Description 2006. Paperback. Book Condition: New. 2nd. 152mm x 36mm x 229mm. Paperback. First published in 1999, this celebrated history of San Francisco traces the exploitation of both local and distant regions by prominent families?the Hearsts, de Youngs, Spreckelses, and other.Shipping may be from our UK, US or Australian warehouse depending on stock availability. 402 pages. 0.658. Bookseller Inventory # 9780520250086